Fish-plate and rail-fastener.



, PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903. V w. H. LOGAN. FISH PLATE AND RAIL'LE'ASTENER.

'APPLIQATION IIL ED MAR. 28, 1903.

R0 MQDBL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FISH-PLATE AND RAlL-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 737,942, datedSeptember 1, 1903.

Application filed March 28, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. LOGAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Carnegie, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fish-Plates and Rail-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements infish-plates for railroad-rails; and the main object of the invention isto construct a fish-plate to embrace the rail, fitting underneath thetread thereof and the base at the upper edge of the latter and embracingthe base, the flange of the plate having a struck-out lug adapted torest upon the cross-tie and be securely spiked thereto.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device of thischaracter which will securely hold the rails against lateral movementwithout the aid of bolts passing through the webs of the rails and. thefish-plates.

Briefly described, the invention comprises an integral plate and a clampmember which receives one-half of the rail-base, the base of this clampmember being cut out at one or more points and the portion thereof benton twardly to form a brace-plate adapted to lie upon the cross tie andbe rigidly spiked thereto. Where the joint between the rails is betweentwo of the cross-ties, the device will be provided with a lug forengagement with and be secured to the ties at each side of the joint,and where the joint is to be placed directly upon one of the cross-tiesa single brace-plate may be employed.

The invention will be hereinafter more specifically described and thenparticularly pointed out in the accompanying claims; and in describingthe invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying draw-.ings, wherein like numerals of reference will be employed fordesignating like parts throughout the difierent views, in which Figure 1is a detail perspective view showing my improved device in position, thejoint being made between two adjacent cross-ties, one of the rails beingin cross-section and the other broken away. Fig. 2 is an end View of oneof the fish-plates. Fig. 3 is a side eleva- Serial No. 149,927. (Nomodel.)

tion of the same, and Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view thereof.

My invention comprises both a fish-plate and a chair to receive the endsof the rails.

In practice where the joint is to be laid between two ties, which is acommon practice, the device will be made of a sufficient length topermit of the forming of two securing-plates thereon, one for each ofthe ties at the sides of the joint, and where the joint is to be made ontop of one of the ties a single securingplate will be employed. In Fig.1 the device is shown with the joint laid between two adjacent ties 1,while the device, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is adapted to be employedwhen the joint is madeon top or over a crosstie.

My invention embodies a fish-plate 2, preferably constructed of thestandard formthat is, to engage underneath the tread of the rails 3 andat the upper edge of the base, whereby the weight on the treads of therails is delivered to the fish plate. This fish-plate is formed integralwith a base-receiving clamp member which receives practically one-halfof the rail-base. This clamp member embodies the upper plate 4 and abase-plate 5, the former shaped to conform to the upper face of therail-base, and the baseplate being formed with a flat upper and lowerface, whereby to receive the flat face of the rail-base and also to restfiat upon the crossties. The base-plate 5 is formed intermediate itsends with parallel slits extending throughout the width of the plate,and the material between these slits is struck or bent outwardly to forma securing-plate 6,adapted to rest upon the cross-ties and be securelyspiked thereto, as shown at 7. Where the joint is over a tie, one plateonly at each side will be needed; but where the joint is laid betweenthe ties a securing-plate for each tie at the side of the joint will beemployed. The base-plates 5 are preferably made slightly less in widththan one-half the width of the rail-base in order to allow for expansionand contraction. The securing-plates act as a brace for holding thefish-plates firmly in position against the rails without other securingmeans than the fastening employed in the plates, though, if desired,spikes may be engaged with the edge of the clamp member.

the material between said slits struck out wardly with its lower face ona plane with the tie with apertures formed in said extensions forsecuring the same to the tie, substantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM H. LOGAN.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILsoN, K. H. BUTLER.

